Tag: schools

Parent FAQs

Click here for a downloadable version of the Parent FAQs

What kind of tree will we be getting?

      • The exact species you will be receiving will be known in early April.
      • Neighborhood Forest aims to provide native trees in all the regions we serve. Last year, we gave away 9 different species. We tend to provide species on a state-by-state basis and like to provide different species each year to provide variety and diversity of trees.

When will my tree be arriving and will it be shipped directly to my address?

      • We aim to have the trees arrive to your school, library, or youth group leader by April 20th. If you are ordering your free tree from your child’s school, your child should bring the tree home when it is distributed at their school around Earth Day (April 22).
      • If you are ordering your tree through your library, you will need to pick up your tree from your library when it arrives. You are responsible for contacting your library and arranging for the pick up of your tree around Earth Day.
      • While the library should be contacting you about pick up details, we encourage you to be proactive. If you are ordering your tree through a scout group, we encourage you to contact the scout leader about pick up details around Earth Day.

How do I care for my tree to ensure that it grows and thrives?

      • We encourage you to walk through this tree planting guide for best practices on caring for your tree.

What if I don’t have a yard or place to plant my tree? Can I plant my tree in a pot and leave it indoors?

      • Ideally, you want to plant your tree in the ground, outside, in a permanent location where you can watch and care for its growth. These trees are accustomed to being outside in the elements, so if you do keep it in a pot for a year or two, be sure to keep it outside.
      • We are looking for ways to provide something to grow for kids that do not have a yard or live in apartments. We hope to make these options available in the near future. 
      • If you do not have a yard to plant your tree, we encourage you to plant your tree with a willing friend or family member who has a yard.

How does Neighborhood Forest fund all of these free trees?

How can I donate?

Neighborhood Forest

5244 Zenith Ave South

Minneapolis, MN 55410

    • All donations are tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law and are not an exchange for any goods or services.

How can I offset my carbon footprint through Neighborhood Forest?

      • The average American consumes 7 trees per year in wood and paper products and emits 20 tons of CO2 annually. One tree will sequester 1 ton of CO2 in its lifetime (on average). So, to go carbon neutral via trees, a person has to plant 20 trees for every year they are on the planet. Factoring in estimated tree survival rates and annual wood and paper consumption, we recommend planting 50 trees per year per person to offset an individual’s tree and carbon footprint – thus the 50 trees x $5 = $250 / year or $25 / month membership cost calculation.

How can I get connected?

Updated 3/22/23

Important Information About Your Trees!

Posted on April 25, 2019 by vnarula

Dear Parents,

Happy Earth Day (and Week)!  Your tree is coming (if it has not already)!

Thank you for registering to receive and plant a free tree with your child(ren) through Neighborhood Forest!

You are part of a coordinated national tree planting initiative that will involve close to 7000 families across North America!

Important Information About Your New Tree

Trees are being shipped to schools this week and will be brought home with your child(ren) by Thursday or Friday this week.

Please keep your tree refrigerated and roots damp until planted!

Most of you will be receiving an Eastern Red Cedar tree.  Below is information about your new tree and some simple planting instructions.

The eastern redcedar grows to a height of 40–50′ and a spread of 8–20′ at maturity and grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.

Redcedars are unusually long-lived, with the potential to live over 900 years. The oldest tree reported, from West Virginia, is 940 years old!

Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day.

Redcedar foliage provides nesting and roosting cover for sparrows, robins, mockingbirds, juncos, and warblers.

The eastern redcedar is an ancient tree, dating back to aboriginal America.

Want to thank us?

Please send us pictures of your kids with the trees!  We love seeing the smiling kids with their trees, especially when they are planted.

We are celebrating our 10th year of giving away free trees and we are starting to collect “then and now” photos of the kids and their trees (see below).  We would love to collect more!

These pictures keep us inspired and motivated – please share the joy! You can post them on our Facebook page.

We are ever so grateful for your participation in our program.

It would not be possible without dedicated parents, children, schools, coordinators, volunteers, and sponsors.

Thank you for making this spring season extra special!

We Boogied Down!

Posted on May 18, 2014 by vnarula

Yes, we got our groove on with Mama Earth this year. Two states.  26 schools. Nearly 2500 trees planted.

A big thanks to all our wonderful sponsors who made it possible.

Of course, a big thanks goes out to our participating schools, our incredible school coordinators, the teachers, the parents, and, of course, the children. Your support and participation helped make this year’s tree giveaway our best one yet!

Stay tuned. We’ve got more in store for 2015.  More schools joining us, more trees to be given away and more smiles to bring to the kids.

We hope you enjoy some of these highlights from Earth Week 2014!